Bayfront Park’s New Year’s Eve features Red Bull Soundclash

A spectacular fireworks show over Biscayne Bay will welcome the arrival of 2012.

It’s time to ring in the new year and Bayfront Park is the place to be for the largest free party in South Florida on Dec. 31.

Red Bull Soundclash presents an incomparable live music showcase featuring a first time ever match-up between Ludacris and Mike Posner. The pre-show festivities begin at 7 p.m. and the main show starts at 9 p.m. In addition, count down to midnight with Miami’s own “Big Orange.” At the south end of the park, this New Year’s Eve icon slowly will ascend the side of the InterContinental Hotel, reaching the top at midnight in conjunction with a grand display of fireworks over beautiful Biscayne Bay.

Red Bull Soundclash is a totally unique clash of sounds, styles and creativity, where two bands don’t battle each other, but instead collaborate to create an innovative live music performance. The show features two bands with different music styles facing off on two stages positioned on opposite ends of the venue with the audience in the middle.

The Red Bull Soundclash format takes each band through a series of collaborative challenges that makes it less of a battle and more of a musical conversation. In Round One (the cover), both bands play their own version of the same cover song. Round Two (the takeover) begins with the first band playing one of its original songs and mid-way through the other band takes over seamlessly finishing the song in their own style.

The third round (the clash), highlights each band’s musical versatility by having them perform songs in three different styles as determined by the deejay — for example: Electronic, Reggae and Rock. The fourth and final round is full of surprises, as each act is allowed to bring on a special guest to join their performance.

No bottles, cans, coolers or fireworks allowed. Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd., is the place to be on New Year’s Eve.